Mum’s fury after drug driver who killed her 11-year-old daughter escaped prosecution because he was under legal drugs limit

Vance Peterson, 36, won't face trial despite having traces of cannabis and alcohol in his system

By JENNIFER HALE

19th October 2016, 4:01 pm

Updated: 22nd October 2016, 1:42 pm

A MAN who killed an 11-year-old schoolgirl after his car crashed into her bike will not be put on trial despite having traces of drugs in his system.
Vance Peterson, 36, will not be prosecuted over the death of Jodie Rodgers in Cleethorpes, North East Lincs, last year after the coroner at an inquest into the crash ruled that she died of an unavoidable "road traffic collision".

The youngster was tragically killed after Peterson's car collided with her bike as she cycled home with a friend from school on September 25.
Her mum Nicola questioned the law over leal limits for illegal substances during the hearing, asking: "Why is there a legal limit for an illegal substance?
"If you are not allowed it in your possession, you should not be allowed to have it in your system. So, it is illegal. But it is legal to drive with it."
She added: "It should not have happened."
But the Coroner replied: "That is down to the Government. We don't make the law."

Vance Peterson was driving along Park Street in Cleethropes his blue BMW 320 Coupe to a birthday party at a pub in Grimsby, Nort East Lincs., when the incident occurred.
Jodie, who was with her school friend Kitty, was attempting to cross the road on her bike when her front wheel entered the road.

A postmortem revealed the schoogirl, who was not wearing a safety helmet, suffered a fatal head injury.

Peterson's girlfriend Karen and 10-year-old daughter were passengers in the car, which Peterson claims was driving at 30mph at the time of the crash.

The inquest was told he had drank a small amount of alcohol and has driven a short distance when he spotted Jodie and her friend riding on the pavement. He then saw one of the bikes come out on to the road before the crash.
He said he was driving at 30mph and had "no time at all" to react - but crash investigators said they had calculated his speed earlier at over 40.

However, crash investigator PC Clark said the figure, calculated via CCTV footage, was 150m south of the collision and the vehicle had reduced its speed by the time it crashed.
He also said Jodie had come off the pavement at a dropped kerb and was half a meter over on the road, and that "there is no pedestrian crossing on Park Street, therefore the responsibility of crossing remains with the pedestrian."
He added that Peterson would have had only "a fraction of a second" to react to bike coming out on to the road and that he "would have been unable to carry out any avoiding move".
He said that drivers should "adjust their driving plan accordingly" if they see kids on bikes, which would "allow sufficient time and distance to accommodate for the potential movement of the children."

Peterson had cannabis in his system at the time of the fatal collision

Mum Nicola was also given the opportunity to cross-examine Mr Peterson and forced him to apologise.
She said: "Why have you not said sorry to anyone? You have shown no remorse."
In a low, muffled voice, Mr Peterson said: "I am very sorry."
Her partner made two outbursts during the hearing, shouting abuse including "My partner's daughter is dead because of you."
There were seven police officers inside the hearing and further officers present outside the building, following alleged threats made on social media ahead of the inquest.
Mr Peterson was kept in an adjoining room to the court chamber until he was asked to give his evidence.

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